News / USMX and ILA to start talks on new contract covering Atlantic coast ports

© Vchalup

Negotiations on contracts covering some 45,000 dockworkers along the US east and Gulf coast ports are expected to begin soon, just four months before the current agreement expires.  

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) yesterday announced they expected master contract negotiations to follow “the likely completion” of talks on local contracts this week. 

ILA president Harold Daggett had instructed union branches to resolve local east/Gulf coast work issues by mid-May, aiming to avoid a repeat of the contract negotiations on the west coast that were held up by a local dispute. 

Both sides yesterday said they were committed to reaching a new agreement before the six-year labour contract covering ports on the eastern coastline expires on 30 September. 

A joint statement said: “We are confident that, with tentative local contracts negotiations scheduled to be completed by the 17 May deadline, the ILA and USMX can begin full master contract talks, with the goal of reaching an agreement on a new pact before the expiration of the current contract. 

“The ILA and USMX expect to continue the success of our 2012 and 2018 master contract negotiations where two landmark six-year agreements were achieved without any disruption or delays in shipment of cargo.”  

The ILA represents some 85,000 members at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, US and Canadian Great Lakes, major US rivers; in Puerto Rico, eastern Canada and the Bahamas. USMX represents their employers, including container carriers, 46 major marine terminal operators and port associations. 

The two sides started talks a year ago, but these stalled after only a few weeks. Mr Daggett has repeatedly warned that the union members would not continue work under the current contract past its expiry date, which would signal a strike as early as 1 October. 

The Loadstar has reportedhow the impact of work stoppages on US imports would be almost immediate, highlighting the importance of a successful and speedy negotiation.